337 338 339 The King wisely discouers their intentions 339 340 The Mart is remoued to Calice 340 Sir William Stanley is beheaded and Warbeck is discomforted in Kent 342 The Scots vnder pretence to aid him vexe England 343 The Cornish Rebells are ouerthrowne 343 344 And many of them are executed 345 The Scots invade and are wasted 346 The Mart is restored to the Flemings 346 Exeter is besieged and defended valiantly 342 King Henrie commeth to that Citie and giues vnto it his sword 348 The Rebells flie 349 Perkin Warbeck and the yong Earle of Warwick son to George Duke of Clarence the brother of King Edward the Fourth seeking to escape are preuented and beheaded 350 Two mariages with France and Scotland 350 Empson and Dudley doe execute penall lawes 351 The King in his death bed doth repent it and lends mony freely to his Marchants and dieth 359 King HENRY the Eighth HE executeth Empson and Dudley 355 And marieth his brothers wife 355 He sideth with the Pope against France 356 His Father-in-law Ferdinando vseth him ill 357 And trecherously surpriseth the kingdome of Nauarre 357 Edward Howard Lord Admirall is drowned 359 King Henrie hath three armies in France 360 Maximilian the Emperour serueth him in those warres 361 Tyrwin and Tourney are wonne 361 Iames the Fourth King of Scots is slaine in Flodden field 361 362 Peace is concluded with France 364 Cardinall Wolseys deedes and actions from pag. 364. vnto pag. 388. The Clergie feare the Premunire and therefore are liberall 388 The king is acknowledged supreme head of the Church 388 403 He marieth Anne of Bullein 389 And beheadeth her 403 Euill May-day 390 Tournay is deliuered vpon condicions 390 Which by the French were broken 393 The Duke of Buckingham is attainted and executed 392 The King writes a booke against Martin Luther 393 He maketh warres in France 394 395 396 397 Priuie seales being granted are released by Parliament 395 English souldiers doe returne vnlicenced out of France 397 The Emperor the Scots and the French doe craue peace 398 399 The King is in danger to bee drowned 400 He hath warres with the Emperour 401 He curbeth the Popes authority 401 Fisher and Moore doe loose their heads 402 Petit Religious houses are suppressed 403 All the rest are likewise suppressed 407 The holy maid of Kent 402 The Lancashire-men doe rebell 404 The King is passing stout 404 Rebellion by the holy Pilgrimes miraculously appeased 405 An other Rebellion is suppressed 406 Cromwell is aduanced highly 406 But is ouerthrowne by concluding a mariage for the King with Anne of Cleue which the King disliked 408 409 That mariage is pronounced to be void 409 The King marrieth the Lady Katherine Howard 409 And beheaded her 410 He is made King of Ireland 410 The Scots invade and are miserably ouerthrowne 413 A mariage being motioned by the Scots 413 Is concluded but they breake their oathes the match too 415 Scotland is wasted 415 The King sendeth two Armies into France 415 Bullein is wonne 417 The King hath a Beneuolence 417 The Frenchmen are ouerthrown 418 The Scots invade and are vanquished 419 The famous and renowned Earle of Surry is beheaded And the King dyeth THE HISTORIE OF KING WILLIAM THE CONQVEROR AFTER the death of King Edward who was the sonne of Egeldredus and of Goditha his wife Harold her brother and second sonne to the Earle Godwin vsurped this kingdom and caused himselfe to be crowned King the Crowne being formerly giuen by King Edward vnto William the seuenth Duke of the Normans and base sonne to Robert their sixt Duke To whose vse and behoofe Harold had formerly sworne to keepe the same Whereof when Duke William was certainely enformed Hee charged him by his Letters and by Messengers with his promise confirmed by his Oath and required him in friendly sort and without blowes to possesse him of his Crowne But proud Ambition arming him with a Resolution to remaine a King in despight of threats or Fortune made him rather to quoine dishonorable excuses then to giue satisfaction as hee had sworne And for answere to returne That promises and vowes rashly made and by compulsion as his was especially for a Kingdome wherevnto the State had giuen no free consent were not at all to bee regarded And therefore seeing the Dukes Rule and Dominions were as ample and as large elsewhere as Nature and Art had enabled him to manage and to command he wished him to bee contented with his owne and not aduenture to claspe more within his hand then he was well able to hold fast Nor to couet that which hee should not enioy As this answere bred Discontent So rage began to resolue on Armes For the Duke assisted by his Martiall friends leuied a strong Armie and furnished it with all abiliments and necessaries for the Warre with which through the assistance of some natiue Nobles who adhered to his part hee safely landed in Sussex where hauing prouidently sheltred himselfe against all suddaine stormes hee challenged Harold to a single Combat thereby to decide the strife without much bloud But Harold entertained not the Challenge but sent him word That to gaine or keepe a Kingdome it required more blowes then two could giue 14. October 1066. So that within fewe dayes after a fierce and cruell Battaile of the continuance of one whole day without intermission or breathing was fought betwixt them But in the Euening HAROLD being deadly wounded with an Arrow left both his Kingdome and his life And Duke William almost with equall losse of his men became Victor in the field The Saxons Raigne ended And thus ended the Saxons Raigne which from the first yeare of Hengistus in the yeare of our Lord God foure hundred seuentie and fiue vntill the time of this Conquest in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixtie and sixe had continued Sauing that now and then it was interrupted by the Danes the space of fiue hundred fourescore and eleuen yeares The Duke hauing thus slaine Harold and gained his Kingdome began to raigne as King And on Christmas day then next following hee was crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of Yorke by the enforced consents of the English Nobles Who with an outward applause but with an inward griefe and sorrow submitted themselues to be his subiects the Kentish men excepted By whom is hee trauailed to possesse himselfe of the strong Castle of Douer he was preuented in his iourney and compassed round about by valiant men of War who carying greene boughs in their hands and resembling a moouing Wood enuironed the King and all his followers ere they were aware therof And protested manfully to die rather then they would by seruile basenesse be depriued of those ancient Lawes and Customes whereby their Countrie was then ruled The King perceiuing his owne danger and their resolution hearkned to their demaunds and not onely granted their requests but for their bold and valorous attempt hee honoured them with
of the Kings royall person And this conceit so pleased him that he now and then would babble and reueale it to some of his inward and familiar friends and some of them discouered it to his destruction and vtter ouerthrow Likewise this hope framed him to a more ambitious course in his cariage and made him negligent of his seruice and dutie to the King insomuch that his Maiestie by his Letters required him with all conuenient expedition priuately to repaire vnto the Court But as he was in his Barge vpon the Thames hee was by Sir Henry Marney Captaine of the Kings Guard who had with him an hundred of the Kings Yeomen subiect to his command attached and arrested of high treason and as a prisoner conueied to the Tower And being afterwards legally and according to the due forme of Law indicted by sundrie Knights and Gentlemen for that as much as in him lay he had conspired and contriued the Kings death to make himselfe his successour hee was brought to a Barre at Westminster Hall before the Duke of Norfolke high Steward of England and his chiefest Iudge And hauing holden vp his hand he was arraigned of treason vpon the said indictment and pleaded thereunto that hee was not guiltie and did referre himselfe for his triall to God and to his Peeres who were these the Duke of Suffolke the Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Oxford Deuon Darbie Shrewesburie Essex Worcester and Kent and the Lords De la Ware Fitz-Warren Willoughbie Harbert Cobham Brooke and Morley These Noble men in the presence of the Prisoner had witnesses face to face who were all prisoners for concealments of the same offence and deposition in writing which when they had done they arose from the Bench retired into a priuate roome and after a short absence returned againe to their places and the Duke of Buckingham being againe brought vnto the Barre the said Lords one by one protested with great solemnitie and protestations on their honour that they thought him to bee guiltie according to the indictment And thereupon the Lord high Steward with many teares pronounced against him that iudgement which against meaner offenders in that nature is giuen Whereupon hee was taken from the Barre and hauing an Axe borne before him with the edge thereof turned towards him because he had his iudgement to die he was conueied by water to the Temple staires and was there receiued on land by Sir Nicholas Vaux and Sir William Sands both Baronets who conducted him thorow the Citie of London to the Tower and within two or three daies after he was beheaded on a Scaffold at the Tower Hill About the same time the King himselfe wrote and published in the Latine tongue a booke against Martin Luthers Assertions The King writeth against Martin Luther Disputes and Arguments touching Indulgences and the Sacraments of the Church for which cause he was by the Pope enstiled Defensor Fidei Defender of the Faith Yet some doe affirme that he was so entituled in requitall of the aide and succour which by the gift of excessiue summes of money when he and his Cardinals were prisoners to the Emperour was extended to him and them Defensor Fidei We haue alreadie heard how that Cardinall Wolsey being sent to Calice to ratifie and to confirme the Peace which not long before was concluded there betwixt the Emperor the two Kings The French King first breaketh the peace did therein little good And wee must now know that the first breach of that peace was made by the French King who began to warre sharply on the Emperor both by Sea and Land And because he suspected that King Henrie partly for affinities sake and partly by reason of the condition of part-taking annexed to the said peace did secretly side with the Emperor against him therefore he dealt thus vnkindly with King Henrie 1 First of all contrarie to his faith and promise hee sent Iohn Duke of Albanie into Scotland to raise new warres The French King wrongeth King Henry and many mischiefs against this Realme to the end that the King might not haue any leisure to ioyne with the Emperour and to make warre vpon him 2 Secondly he detayned and kept from the King that yearely Tribute which for Normandie Aquitaine and other the Kings inheritance in those Countries was due and payable by the Kings of France 3 Thirdly contrarie to his promise and safe conduct giuen to the Marchants of England no warre betwixt the two Kings being proclaimed he seised on all their wares and marchandizes in Burdeaux and committed them to prison 4 Fourthly vpon the Seas he riffled robbed and spoiled the Marchants of England daily and vpon complaints promised liberall restitution but made none 5 Fiftly he refused to pay to Queen Mary Dowager of France her yearly pension contrarie to the agreement made betwixt king Henrie and the whole estate of France 6 And last of all neglecting his Hostages and making a wilfull breach of his promise he would not pay those summes of money which were concluded to be paid for the surrendring and yeelding vp of the Citie and Castle of Tourney into his hands King Henries course for requitall These iniuries and wrongs first of all procured the King to make generall Musters through his whole kingdome and then to apparell prouide and furnish his Nauie Royall and to commit them to the charge and gouernment of the Earle of Surrey his high Admirall the scourger of the French King for all his faults To him hee gaue ample and large commission to vexe and to annoy the French King and his Subiects both by Sea and Land He also restrained the French Embassador of his libertie not permitting him to goe abroad without his leaue He also caused the marchandizes wares goods and money of all Frenchmen within his kingdome not being Denizens to be attached to his owne vse Also hee committed their bodies to Gaoles and Prisons vsing them in the like sort as his Subiects and Marchants were misvsed in France A French Armie vanisheth King Henrie being informed that the French King hauing leuied an Armie houered vp and downe neare vnto the marches of Calice to preuent danger and to meet with him at all assaies sent many thousands of gallant and braue Souldiers to the Sea which were by the Admirall receiued into his Fleet so that vpon any occasion or neede they might quickly bee set on land But when they perceiued that Calice was not in any hazard for that the French Armie was vanished and dissolued then the Admirall because he loathed to be idle landed many of his men vpon the coast of Brittaine Morleys taken burnt and with great confidence and resolution conducted them to Morleys where a principall gate of the Citie being battered and beaten open with some great shot the braue English men boldly entred in riffled ransacked and spoiled the town and by the cōmandement of the Admirall they consumed it
THE HISTORIE AND LIVES OF THE KINGS of England From WILLIAM the CONQVEROR vnto the end of the Raigne of King HENRIE the EIGHT By WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire Recorder of the Honorable Citie of EXETER Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora LONDON Printed for IOHN BILL William Barret and Henrie Fetherstone 1615. TO THE GENTRIE OF ENGLAND WOrthie Gentlemen omitting all elaborated Eloquence which oftentimes is vsed as a varnish to couer vnprofitable labours As cunning Goldsmithes doe enrich their basest Siluer when they Gilt it with their purest Gold J purpose to render to you an accompt of two reasons which induced me to take this paine and to publish this worke 1. Jt is common among Phisitions That though profound Learning and frequent Experience haue furnished them with abundant skill in their Honourable profession yet they doe still striue to make their knowledge more perfect in the discouerie of the imperfections of other mens bodies then of their owne Jn like sort it is the common custome of our times that many hopefull Gentlemen whom Nature and Arts haue beautified with the rich treasures of their bountie do endeauour to be more exact and refined in knowing the Religion Lawes Gouernment Maners Strength and Sites of forraine Countries then of that Kingdome wherein themselues were borne But as that man is wise in vaine who is not wise vnto himselfe So it is a simple grace nay to speake plainly it is a foule disgrace to a Gentleman especially to such a one as hath or doth intend to spend much time abroad to know the fashions of forraine Nations to be ignorant in the State of his owne Countrie at home The Historie of which affordeth as much varietie and profitable instruction to captiuate the Readers delight in the perusall as the fairest Pictures doe contentment when with their artificiall beauties they doe allure mens eyes to looke and to gaze vpon them To this end therefore that hencefoorth such worthy Gentlemen as are purposed in long traueling to enlarge their experience by the view of foraine Countries may first be furnished with a conuenient knowledge of their owne J vndertooke this labour and doe present it vnto you with this my first reason which induced me thereunto 2. The second reason of my so doing springeth out of mine owne conceit which as J coniecture deceiues me not For in regard that the Histories of this Kingdome are frequently interrupted yea blemished by too too many interuening Occurrences and by a multitude of extrauagant Obseruations which doe much differ from the true Method and Nature of a well digested and composed Chronicle and thereby doe extend it into a needlesse and an vnprofitable length J am resolued that the Readers capacitie to obserue and to remember is much weakned thereby And that many yong Gentlemen who doe egerly striue to attaine to much knowledge in a short time doe rather bend their Studies and their courses to reade ouer the more narrowly contracted Histories of other Countries then the voluminous Discourses of their owne Wherefore to inlighten their knowledge much by reading this little J haue thrust forth into the World this short Historie of the Raignes Deeds and Actions of twentie of our English Kings which J will neither praise least J wrong it by mine owne commendation nor dispraise least you beleeuing mee on my word should thinke your time ill spent to read what I haue written J know that such as are worthily descended or who by learning are made worthy will not only winke at some imperfections because some knowledge is to be gained by the rest but will also take in good part the presentment of a small gift if it be deliuered with a friendly hand To such only and to none other which are you doe J dedicate these my labors Being confidently assured that they cannot want their expected reward which is nothing but your kinde acceptance and gracefull loue Fare you well from my house in Exeter the twentieth of Ianuarie 1615. Your louing Friend WILLIAM MARTYN TO MY MOST DEARE Father WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire THough my vnpractis'd Muse might well conceale Her selfe from th'eye-reach of a publique view Yet my devoted heart stir'd on with zeale And dutie which are owing both to you Feares not the spleene of Criticks but shall beare Their heauiest censures True loue orecomes feare I will not speake of your vnwearied paine In gathring and disposing 't is a treasure Well worth the Readers paines when he may gaine With little reading profit mixt with pleasure These ruder lines your labors little neede To winne the Readers liking Let him reade NICHOLAS MARTYN To my most loued and dearest Father WILLIAM MARTYN ESQVIRE I Could deere Sir haue spoke with farre more ease In copious Prose than in strict Verse your praise But that I knew your fame would farre out-goe All foote-lesse Prose my Verse not full so slow Hauing the helpe of feete serues thus farre forth Though not to Vsher yet t' attend your worth You neede not either to inlarge your fame The Booke it selfe doth Chronicle the same WILLIAM MARTYN To my most dearly loued Father WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire WHil'st others send you Lines trickt out with Art My Infant yeares shall onely send mine heart Looke for no greater gift from so small store He that giues all he has can giue no more EDWARD MARTYN TO MY DEARLY HONORD FATHER-IN-Law WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire A Publique good must quell your priuate feare The profit of a Writers industrie Should be imparted to a generall Eare For good is better'd by communitie Nor may detraction or the injurie Of some mens censures dash what he doth write If but what only pleaseth all mens sight No worke should come to light no worke should come to light What though you gather'd haue the seuerall flowr's Of other Bookes into this Historie Distill'd to Spirit by you they 're wholly yours So honie suckt from the varietie Of flowr's is yet the honie of the Bee And though in these dayes Miracles are fled Yet this shall of your Chronicle be read It brings back Time that 's past and giues life to the Dead Peter Beuys THE SVMMARIES OR ABBREVIATES OF THE RAIGNES OF THE twentie Kings mentioned more largely in this Discourse King WILLIAM the Conqueror AFTER the death of King Edward Harold contrarie to his promise oath refuseth to giue the possession of the Crowne and kingdome of England to William the seuenth Duke of the Normans Wherefore to preuent the effusion of much bloud the Duke challenged him to a single combate which hee refused whereupon the Duke landeth and being assisted by the Natiues of this Countrie he obtayneth the victorie * 1066. and claymed this Crowne by conquest Pag. 2. He is in danger as he trauelleth towards Douer and makes his peace 3. His policies to suppresse the English Nation and his cruelties towards them 3 4 5 6. He taxeth them beyond measure they rebell twice and are twice
into Farmes for their particular vses and necessities and the residue of them they graunted or leased to their slaues and seruants thereby creating Manors and entitling themselues the Lords of them The King also vpon those his gifts proportioned those grounds diuiding them into Hydes of Land euery Hyde containing twentie acres and eight Hydes making a whole Knights fee. The Tenures which he reserued were Knights seruice in capite by meanes whereof his Tenants were enioyned to doe him manie necessarie and honorable Seruices either in his Warres or to his Royall person For the performance whereof he tooke their Oathes in publike Courts both of Homage and of Fealtie And by reason of this kinde of Tenure he disposed of the bodies of their Heires in marriage as he listed and retayned in his custodie and Wardship to his owne vse their whole Inheritance vntill they accomplished their age of one and twentie yeares Which Tenures are continued at this day And by his example others of great possessions did the like And thus may we plainely see as in a Mappe the perfect Modell and Description of his rigorous and sharpe Gouernement wherein he rather practised the licentious power of an insolent Conqueror than the gratious kindnesse of an annointed King By meanes whereof many feared few did loue him and such as pleased him best were many times in great hazard vpon small occasions to be frowned on ANNO. 2. In the second yeare of his raigne by reason of his Taxes which exceeded beyond measure the inhabitants of Northumberland and of Deuon Taxes caused Rebellions did rebell But such was his valour and expedition that ere they were aware thereof his forces like a loftie Sea or a whirling Wind rushed violently vpon them and easily subdued them to their paine ANNO. 3. And not long after Swanus then King of the Danes being animated and set on edge by the daily perswasions and enticements of such English Nobles The Danes inuade and are put to flight as to preuent their owne ruine and destruction were fled to him for succour arriued with a strong Armie in the North where the inhabitants endeuoring the enjoyment of their former libertie with bold courage assisted them in their inuasion But the King almost no sooner saw them than he compelled them vpon the loosing hand to flye vnto their shippes And to reuenge the infidelitie of the English he vtterly spoyled and harrowed their best and most fruitfull Lands The English are plagued lying betwixt Yorke and Durham So that by reason thereof for the space of nine yeares after those grounds lay wast and vnmanured and great numbers of people of all ages died miserably with famine and with want ANNO. 4. The next yeare after he summoned a generall Conuocation of his Clergie In which with much asperitie and bitternesse he accused diuers and sundrie graue and learned Bishops Abbots Priors and Religious Prelates of many surmises faults and offences for which he vtterly deposed and depriued them both of their Dignities Goods and Liuings all which he conferred vpon such as either through his fauour or for great summes of money were able to procure them These fearefull presidents of insufferable cruelties Another Rebellion prouoked Marcarus and Edwyn then Earles of Northumberland and of Mercia together with Egilwynus then Bishop of Durham to rebell But the King like a Lyon encountring their weaker forces draue Edwyn into Scotland where trecherously he was murdered He tooke Marcarus and imprisoned him in the Tower of London where manie yeares after he remained with little hope of his deliuerance And the Bishop being a prisoner in the Abbey of Abbington was cruelly famished to death At this time great strife touching the Primacie arose ANNO. 7. The Primacie of Canterburie ANNO. 9. betwixt the Archbishops of Canterburie and of Yorke which continued almost two yeares But at length Thomas was adiudged to be subordinate to Lanfrank then Archbishop of Canterburie and the other submitted himselfe accordingly In the twelfth yeare of this Kings Raigne at a great Synod holden at Paules Church in London some Bishopricks were translated from one place to another as Selwy vnto Chichester ANNO 12. Bishoprickes translated Kyrton vnto Exeter Wells vnto Bath Shirborne vnto Salisburie Dorchester vnto Lincolne and Lichfield vnto Chester Oswald Bishop of Salisburie ANNO 13. Secundum vsum Sarum was a most deuout and religious man he deuised a certaine forme of Prayers to be daily vsed in his Church which was so generally liked by the Clergie that they were published in bookes and vsed in other Churches Whence proceeded the common saying of Secundum vsum Sarum In the fifteenth yeare of this Kings Raigne by the instigation ANNO 15. and with the assistance of Philip the French King Robert his eldest sonne rebelled in Normandie A Rebellion in Normandie which occasioned his father to goe thither with an Armie But he was so stiffely encountred in the field that by his sonne he was vnhorsed and in great perill of his life But he rescued him againe reconciled himselfe receiued pardon and the King with much losse returned againe into England And within few yeares after ANNO 20. to be reuenged of manie iniuries and wrongs to him done by the said Philip from Normandie The Conqueror inuadeth France hee carried a puissant Armie into France where with fortunate successe and with abundance of crueltie he slew burnt spoyled and ransacked his People Townes and Countrey But so much was he trauelled in those affaires and so extreamely did he heate himselfe in those eager conflicts that presently he fell sicke and within few daies after he died The Conqueror falleth sicke and dieth after he had much sorrowed and lamented for the Tyrannies which he had exercised on the English Nation and at last he was buried at Cane in Normandie in the Abbey of S. Stephen which himselfe had builded But his Funerals were interrupted by a Norman Gentleman This dead dogge could not bite who would not permit him to be interred there vntill a satisfactorie recompence was vnto him giuen for that soyle which the Conquerour had vniustly taken from him Thus this victorious Conquerour whose minde was not to be confined with one Kingdome whilest he liued could being dead hardly obtaine a place to be buried in He left behinde him one daughter named Adela and three sonnes Robert to whome he gaue his Duchie of Normandie William surnamed Rufus because his complexion was verie redde and Henrie both which successiuely were Kings The description of the Conqueror He was of an indifferent stature strongly composed in his limbs and comely in his behauiour sterne of countenance and of an vndaunted spirit resolute in all his actions quicke in his Expeditions wise discreet and politike in the managing of his affaires and businesse He banqueted and hunted verie much coueted all oppressed such as he subdued to keepe them low and alwaies held his
elder brother Campeius to the left hand and then hauing caused their commission publikely to bee read the King and the Queene were cited in their owne persons or by their Proctors to appeare The King by his Proctors submitted himselfe to the Apostolical authoritie and power which by the Pope to the two Legates was giuen But the Queen her selfe being accompanied with many Lords The Queene appealeth Knights Gentlemen Ladies and Gentlewomen and hauing first done great reuerence to the Legates appealed from them as from Iudges which were not competent and indifferent to determine betwixt the Queene and King to the Court at Rome This appeale they allowed not but in the same Court they sate weekely And before them many learned and subtile disputations touching the lawfullnesse and also concerning the insufficiencie of that mariage were daily made before them But the King perceiuing that no quick dispatch was vsed though oftentimes deliberately they consulted came with the Queene into the said Court The Kings protestation where his Maiestie solemnely protested his infinite loue towards her acknowledging her to bee the most amiable louing kinde dutious modest and sweetest wife that he thought was in the whole world And that therefore hee should not take so much ioy and comfort in any thing else whatsoeuer as hee should doe in her if by the lawes of God and Man shee might remayne his wife and therefore for the determining of that question and for the quieting of his troubled conscience he instantly importuned a quick dispatch and a finall end He desireth a quick end Then was the Queen demanded whether shee would stick to her appeale or no who answered yea yet for all that the Court proceeded weekly though safely as before Within few dayes after the King being informed The King is delaied that after the last day of that moneth of Iuly the Legates would not sit any more vntill the fourth day of October Hee was thereat vexed and troubled aboue measure Wherefore at the next sitting hee sent the Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke with some other Lords to the Legates requesting them to dispatch their iudiciall sentence one way or other that long delayes might not augment the anguish of his troubled conscience The Dukes in a reuerent and in an earnest manner deliuered their message in the open Court But by Campeius it was answered That there was yearly and of custom a cessation in the Court of Rome betwixt the aforesaid dayes from all Legall proceedings whatsoeuer And that if any sentence in the Interim were giuen it was vtterly void in Law and of no force at all And therefore seeing that their Court was a branch of the Court of Rome they could not vntill the prefixed day intermedle any further in that businesse This answere so much offended Charles the Duke of Suffolke The Duke of Suffolke is angrie that striking his fist vpon the board he swore that the old saying was too too true That neuer Cardinall or Legate did any good in England and therewithall the offended Lords departed and so did almost the whole companie leauing the two Legates to looke one vpon the other The King being thus troubled with an enforced delay Campeius is bound for Rome contented himselfe as patiently as he was able hoping that in October that businesse would haue an end But within few dayes after He was informed that Campeius being sent for by the Pope made great preparations for his returne to Rome Two craftie mates Wherby he perceiued plainly that the two Legates had grosly dissembled with him and that they had secretly plotted these delayes that the matter should not bee definitiuely censured and sentenced by them But in the Court at Rome where infinite costs and charges would bee expended The businesse would be lingred on with arguments and long disputes and that his conscience should bee vnsetled in the meane time And for this cause from this time forward The King hateth Wolsey the King in his heart hated and maligned his vnthankfull dissembling creature base Wolsey whom from a contemptible birth and estate hee had preferred and made Abbot of S. Albons his Almoner a Counsailor of Estate Bishop of Winchester and of Durham Archbishop of Yorke an Embassador to Kings and Princes his Chancelor and a Cardinall And thus this businesse which bee plotted to make himselfe gratious with the King eminent aboue others and to bee reuenged vpon his enemies turned to his owne ruine and vtter destruction in the end Articles against Wolsey For the Kings Counsell and the Nobles of this Land perceiuing that the Kings heart was changed from him were not a little glad because generally he was hated And to presse him downe in his falling they framed against him diuers Articles some demonstrating his excessiue pride others his insulting tyrannie others his greeuous oppressions others his monstrous iniustice others his insatiable couetousnesse others his abominable lecherie others his eager and sharpe courses to reuenge and others his secret and his cunning dealing betwixt the Pope and him whereby his Maiesties regall authoritie and his prerogatiue royall in all things touching the Clergie and Church was made void And thereupon they concluded that he was guiltie of the Premunire Premunire and consequently bad forfeited all his promotions lands goods chattels and his libertie to the King These Articles being reduced into good forme and fit order were by the Nobilitie ingrossed into a booke subscribed with their hands and then it was deliuered to the King who concealed it for a few dayes Campeius taketh his leaue The two Legates not knowing what had passed came to Woodstock to the King where Campeius tooke his leaue to goe to Rome and Wolsey who purposed to haue left him and to haue remayned with the King was frowningly commanded to accompanie his honest brother vnto London where he should be further informed of the Kings minde When they were come thether and from thence were iournying towards the Sea coasts By order and direction from the Councell His chests are broken Campeius his truncks and chests were broken vp and a diligent search was made to finde such letters as they coniectured were by Wolsey sent to Rome But none were found For by a Post they were sent a way a day or two before The Cardinal is indicted The next Terme the King caused his Atturney Generall named Sir Christopher Hales to preferre into the Kings Bench an inditement vpon the Statute of Premunire against the Cardinall vpon the aforesaid Articles which hee performed accordingly And by the Grand Iurie The great Seale is taken from him it was found against the Cardinall Then forthwith the Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke were required to take from him the great Seale His goods are seazed which the King bestowed vpon Sir Thomas Moore he also caused Sir William Fitz-Williams Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of his Maiesties
houshold and Doctor Stephen Gardiner his new Secretarie so to gard and so to watch his House and Palace at Westminster that none of his moueables whatsoeuer might bee imbeaseled or purloined or carried away from thence And the Cardinall himselfe being confined to Asher He is confined not farre from Kingston and most of his Attendants being displaced and remoued from him a small allowance of things needfull was appointed to him for his necessarie vse whereat hee infinitely greiued Then was he required by the King He confesseth this indictment His dignities taken from him to plead to the said indictment but by his Atturnie sufficiently authorized vnder his hand and seale he confessed euery materiall point thereof Then the king conferred the Abbie of Saint Albones vpon the Prior of Norwich the Bishoprick of Durham vpon Doctor Tonstall and the Chancellorship was ratified to Sir Thomas Moore But the king of his gentlenesse and in regard of his former fauours towards the Cardinall left vnto him the Arch bishoprick of Yorke and the Bishoprick of Winchester and sent vnto him much plate housholdstuffe and many other things part of that which had bin taken from him to a great value Yet in his heart he remained vnthankfull grudging and malitious towards the king The king in former times had intermedled very litle with the gouernment of this Common-weale for hee was almost altogether ruled and directed by the Cardinall and by the Cleargie of this Land But he now began to be sensible of that errour and to cast away that yoke so that he tooke the raines into his owne hand And first of all he assembled his high Court of Parliament in which the Commons of the Lower house sharply complained of the misdemeanors of the Cleargie But especially in these six things Articles against the Cleargie FIrst because with great extremitie they exacted vnreasonable summes of monie as due fees for the Probate of mens last Wills and Testaments 2 Secondly Because they were excessiuely couetous and cruell in demanding for Mortuaries especiall of such poore people as skarsly left two kine for the maintenance of their wiues and children 3 Thirdly Because their full purses made them to become Farmors of great Granges Bartons and temporall farmes taking them in lease in euery Shire and become Husbandmen and Graziers to the preiudice and hurt of such as were trained and brought vp only to be husbandmen 4 Fourthly Because many of them kept Tanning houses for their priuate gaine and were Brokers Buyers and Jngrossers of Wooll Cloth and other marchandizes snatching vp all and enforcing tradesmen and clothiers to buy those commodities at the second or third hand and at vnreasonable prices 5 Fiftly Because such Clergie men as had the best and the greatest Spirituall liuings did with great extremitie take the vtmost of their rights And yet they liued in the Court or in the houses of Noblemen and Bishops so that they spent nothing in Hospitalitie among their Neighbours Nor did feede their flocke with the milke of Gods most holy and sacred Word 6 And last of all Because diuers ignorant men among them held and enioyed eight ten twelue yea more Benefices and Spirituall promotions to themselues seuerally and yet liued not vpon any one of them but kept great Schollars and learned men at a short commons in one of the Vniversities who were better able to doe more good then they Doctor Fisher wrongeth the lower house of Parliament The Bishops perceiuing that these matters much concerned them and the whole Clergie of this Land strongly opposed themselues against such as exhibited the same complaints In so much that Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester being more earnest then well aduised desired the Lords to remember well and to consider that when the Bohemians abused the estate and dignitie of their Clergie they then ruinated and destroyed their Kingdome and Common weale Wherefore hee instantly requested them to bee well aduised before they entertained these obiections For quoth he they are not religious nor doe proceed from Faith When the Commons had vnderstood what the Bishop of Rochester had spoken Then by Thomas Audley their speaker and by thirtie others of the house They informed the King of the said iniurie and wrong Alleaging that if the lower house of Parliament were reputed to want Faith then they were esteemed to bee Heretikes and consequently that all such Bills as they preferred or did passe should bee preferred and concluded on by Panims Pagans and Faithlesse men and so were vnlawfull and vnfit to rule and to gouerne Christians and such as truly and sincerely honored and adored God The King who was much offended They complaine to the King and grieued at the Bishops speech gaue them this gentle answere That hee would vnderstand his meaning concerning those wordes and that with all convenient expedition hee would informe them of his answere And within a day or two after the said Bishop and six others were sent for and the Bishop of Rochester was reprehended by the King But with many solemne protestations hee assured the King that he referred those wordes They proceeded not from faith to the doing deedes and actions of the Bohemians and not to the doings of the lower House which likewise was affirmed by the rest This his excuse was by the King sent to the Commons who spake liberally of the Bishop and repaied their debt with vnseeming termes A bad 〈◊〉 In so much that at a Committee in which the Bishops strongly persisted to maintayne and to iustifie the taking of their Fees for probates of Testaments to be lawfull because the same paiments had beene of a long time vsed a Gentleman of the lower House replyed to the Archbishop of Canterbury That Theeues on Shooters Hill vsed to take purses there Ergo it was lawfull This speech pleased the Commons well For they thought That they had now angred the Bishops as the Bishop of Rochester had angred them Then were the matters aforesaid comprised in the same complaint reduced into formall Bill which being long and substantially disputed on and in some points qualified were assented vnto by both the Houses and afterwards for Lawes established by the King The Booke also which contayned the Articles The articles against Wolsey which were drawne against the Cardinall was sent by the Lords to the lower House In which among diuers other things he was principally accused of these great faults 1 FIrst That by dishonest and cunning reasons hee had deceitfully induced the King to consent that hee should bee made a Legate to the Pope which authoritie did indeede and in effect frustrate and make void all the authoritie and iurisdiction of all other Bishops and Clergie men within this Kingdome and also the authoritie of the King in Ecclesiasticall things and causes 2 Item That in all his letters and other passages to forren Estates and Princes his phrase in writing was Ego Rex meus I and my King
as if the kings Maiestie had beene his inferior and at his command 3 Item That to induce the Pope to giue vnto him a power legantine he in his letters for that purpose had this phrase ecclesia Anglicana facta est in reprobum sensum The Church of England is become reprobate whereby hee vnchristianly disgraced and abominably slandred the Church of England as being faithlesse And that therefore necessity did instantly vrge and require that by a power Legantine to be granted vnto him it might be reduced to a right beliefe 4 Item That when hee was sent an Ambassador to Calice there to conferre with the Ambassadors of the Emperor and of the French king Hee carried with him without the kings leaue the great Seale of this kingdome and from thence he also caried it into Flanders to the Emperors court for his owne honor and vaine glorie 5 Item That without the kings knowledge or consent he had sent a commission sealed with the great Seale of England to Sir Gregorie de Cassado authorizing him thereby in the kings name to conclude a peace betwixt the Duke of Ferrara and the kings Maiestie 6 Item that he being filthily powdred with the french pocks by reason of his excessiue lecherie and dishonest life did oftentimes presume to talke with and to cast his vnholsome breath into the kings face 7 Item That to magnifie his owne power both at home and with forren Nations he caused a Cardinals hat to be stamped on some of the the Kings coine without his Maiesties appointment or consent 8. Item that hee would not suffer the Kings Clerke of the market to execute his office in S. Albons because the same Towne was parcell of his Abbey 9. Jtem that to obtaine his dignities and to continue the loue and fauour of the Pope and of his Cardinals towards him hee had in sixteene barrels conueied to Pope Clement the seuenth and to his Cardinals toward their redemption out of prison wherein after the sacking of Rome they were kept by the Emperour Charles the fifth and to the French king in the Popes behalfe to make warres vpon the Emperour so much gold as did amount to the summe of two hundred and fortie thousand pounds at one time and incredible summes of other money at other times to the great impouerishing of this kingdome and Common-weale and to enrich the king againe had of his owne accord sent out such Commissions into all Shires within this kingdome for the exacting of infinite summes of money as quenched the peoples loue towards the king and made them rebelliously to disturbe the peace of this kingdome in Norfolke and elsewhere These Articles and many more being comprised in the said booke Wolsey confesseth the Articles the Cardinall by a subscription written with his owne hand frankly and freely confessed and submitted himselfe to the Kings mercie About the same time the King for honourable and good seruice created Sir Thomas Bulleine who was Viscount Rochford Earle of Wilshire Noblemen created and Viscount Fitz-water was made Earle of Sussex and the Lord Hastings was created Earle of Huntingdon The King because he was informed that the Emperour and the Pope were together in Bononie sent thither as Ambassadors the said Earle of Wilshire and some others An ambassage protesting that the question touching his mariage was not begotten nor motioned by him nor by his consent but first by the President of Paris who receiued it as he affirmed from the Counsell of Spaine and since by the grauest and the best learned Diuines within his Kingdome and not vpon any dislike which he conceiued against his Queene nor for any desire to change and therefore hee earnestly intreated them The King craueth a sentence that for the clearing of his troubled conscience the same matter might one way or other receiue a speedie and a finall end by a sentence or iudgement declaratorie in the Consistorie of Rome The Emperour said little but onely answered that the iudgement of the Law should content and satisfie him in that point And the Pope said that when he came to Rome the matter should receiue an end but yet hee meant nothing lesse for hee knew right well that if he pronounced sentence against the dispensation granted by Pope Iulie his predecessor although hee knew well that it was flatly against the Law of God then the Popes future dispensations would be little or nothing at all respected or regarded And hee likewise knew that by giuing of sentence against the Queene he should againe make the Emperour his enemie who was now newly become his friend Thus this vnthankfull Pope flattered and dallied with the Kings Ambassadors making them hopefull but in vaine yet with this answer they returned to the King who fearing lest the Pope and his Cardinals would indeede by long delaies abuse and dallie with him imploied diuers Lords and the greatest Diuines within his Kingdome at his exceeding great costs and charges to trauell into all the Vniuersities in the Christian world and there to be resolued of their opinions touching the validitie or nullitie of his said mariage And when they all returned they brought with them twelue Instruments sealed with the publike Seales of so many Vniuersities and also the opinions of sundrie great and famous learned men The opinion of Vniuersities by all which it appeared that they agreed and consented in one that the Kings mariage with his brothers wife was vtterly void and contrary to the Lawes of God and man notwithstanding the dispensation of the Pope Wolsey is licensed to goe to Yorke The King at this time by the aduice of his Counsell licensed Wolsey to liue within his Diocesse of Yorke for which cause he went thither But diuers of his seruants by their friends meanes got into the Kings seruice among whom Thomas Cromwell being a wise and a discreet man was one whom the King entertained with publike demonstration of his good affections towards him and of his fauour The Cardinals Colleges Now though such of the Cardinals lands as he intended to haue bestowed vpon his two Colledges were clearely forfetted vnto the King yet his Maiestie in regard of his great loue which he bare to learning and vnto learned men bestowed the same wholly vpon his Colledge founded in Oxford called the Cardinals Colledge but then newly named the Kings Colledge but now it is called Christs Church And the other of his Colledges founded at Ipswich the King destroied as being vnprofitable and seruing to no purpose The King being secretly informed that the Cardinall had gotten a Bull from Rome to curse him 1530. except hee would restore him to all his goods lands and dignities A Bull from the Pope A proclamation and that none but hee no not the King himselfe should for any offence whatsoeuer correct or punish any Clergie man proclaimed that all prouisions appeales and instruments within the space of one yeare next before
their deserts The next yeare the King in Parliament was made and acknowledged to be the supreme head of the Church within all his Countries and Dominions The Supremacie of the King in all Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall things and causes and the Popes Bulles Pardons Indulgences and other Instruments of the like nature were vtterly banished frustrated made void and of none effect validitie or force concerning the King and his Subiects And likewise the First Fruits and Tenths of all Benefices and Ecclesiasticall dignities and promotions were in the same Parliament giuen and granted to the King and to his heires and successors for euer And not long after Queene Anne sometimes the Kings dearest wife was beheaded yet innocently as at her death shee religiously protested and as all men present did beleeue Queen Anne Bulleine beheaded for that it was vniustly surmised and falsly testified that she had incestuously conuersed with and prostituted her bodie to the Lord Rochford her owne brother Execution who likewise with some others receiued the like sentence and were put to death This Tragedie being thus ended The King marieth the King within twentie daies after maried a vertuous and a faire Gentlewoman whose name was Iane the daughter of Sir Iohn Seymor Knight who bare vnto him a goodly Prince named Edward who succeeded and was King But within few daies after his birth the good Queene died We haue formerly heard that Iames the Fourth King of Scots was slaine at Flodden Field And wee must now know that Queene Margaret his wife being the eldest sister of King Henry was maried afterwards vnto Archibald Douglas Earle of Angus who by her had a daughter named Margaret This Ladie the Lord Howard without the Kings notice or consent tooke to wife The Lord Th. Howard is beheaded for which vnaduised boldnesse and offence she being of the bloud royall he was condemned as a Traitor and lost his head The King who within his owne Territories and Dominions daily furthered his owne intentions to abrogate the authoritie power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome The 32. Commissioners procured it by Parliament to be enacted that thirtie and two such persons spirituall and temporall as his Maiestie should vnder his great Seale nominate and appoint should haue authoritie and power to make and establish Lawes and Ordinances Ecclesiasticall which should binde the Subiects of this Kingdome And by the same Parliament all religious houses Petit houses of Religion suppressed whose possessions in yearly reuenue exceeded not the summe of two hundred pounds were suppressed and dissolued and all their scites and possessions whatsoeuer were giuen for euer to the King The booke of Articles The Clergie also at the same time of their owne accord and to insinuate themselues into grace and fauour with the King composed and published in printed bookes certaine Articles for the ordering and gouerning of the Church in which mention was made of three Sacraments only and the rest of them which former times superstitiously receiued and did maintaine were left out of the said bookes A rebellion in Lincolnshire These proceedings of the King and Clergie against the Pope and holy Church were so generally disliked by the rude ignorant and wilfull people that in many places their lauish tongues were witnesses of their inward griefe and discontent so that they publikely affirmed that the Kings Counsell irreligiously and absurdly aduised and directed him amisse and that the soothing smoothing and temporizing Clergie of this Land prophanely and wickedly practised by all meanes possible to extinguish all deuotion and vtterly to subuert the ancient rites ceremonies and commendable gouernment of the Church And in madde humour and franticke fashion the rude and vnrulie people in Lincolnshire to the number of 20000. assembled themselues in armes taking vpon themselues to frame and to deuise better orders for the gouerning of the Church and Common-weale The King marcheth against the Rebels The King who scorned to be thus checked by his owne Vassals and loathing to proue himselfe a coward at home seeing that forraine Nations had found him to be valiant and full of courage leuied a strong and a puissant Armie with which in his owne person he marched with princely magnanimitie against those rebellious people The Rebels petition who as he drew towards them by their petition craued a reformation of those things which lately had beene done and concluded against Religious Houses and against the former and ancient gouernment of the Church which things being consented and yeelded to they solemnly protested their humble dutie and seruice to the King The King is stout But hee who highly disdained that such plaine Swads and rusticke people should presume to giue instructions vnto him and vnto his whole Clergie and Court of Parliament in matters so farre aboue their vnderstanding and capacitie reiected their petition and resolued by an exemplarie course of iustice to be by the sword martially vsed in the open Field to punish and to correct them except one hundred of those their chiefest Conspirators might be sent and deliuered absolutely into his hands This resolution and quicke demand so appalled the fainting hearts of the rude and headlesse multitude that they suspecting each other of being to be sent vnto the King forsooke the Field The Rebels flie Captaine Cobler Execution and with all speed resorted to their owne houses But Captaine Cobler their chiefest Ring-leader being indeed Doctor Makarell with some others were shortly after apprehended and executed according to their merits and deserts The King who now supposed that all things had beene settled in a sure and in a firme peace was suddenly informed of another Insurrection in the North A rebellion in the North. and that their greeuance was grounded vpon the same points and that the number of those Rebels exceeded the number of 40000. men The holy Pilgrims who termed themselues the Holy Pilgrims who intended nothing but the establishing of true Religion and the reformation of great abuses which defaced the gouernment of the Church To encounter these men The Kings Armie and to correct their braine-sicke humour and foolish madnesse the King appointed the two Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke and some other Lords with a strong and well appointed Armie to march against them with all speed And the Rebels expressing much ioy because they were to fight came neere vnto the Dukes Armie and before them expressed many signes and tokens of vndaunted courage and desperate boldnesse But in the night before the two Armies intended to haue ioined together in handie strokes A strange accident a little brooke which ranne betwixt them and which with a drie foot might the day before haue beene passed ouer grew so outragiously great and violent by the fall of immoderate and continuall showres of raine that the Armies could not meet as they determined This miraculous pitie and this mercifull compassion